Method of and means for producing dental plates.



H. J. SMITH.

METHOD OP AND MEANS FOR PRODUGINGDENTAL PLATES. APPLIUATION FILED Hum, 1912.

1,`O.?4.,152.A Y Patented Apr.23,1912.

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HENRY J; SMITH, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR. TO H. D. JUSTI & SON, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, A COPARTNER-SHIP.

METHOD OF AND MEANS FOR PRODUCING DENTAL PLATES.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY J. SMiTH, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city and county of Philadelphia, State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Method of and Means for Producing Dental Plates, of which the following is a specification. Y

My invention relates to the production of dental plates and suction disks for the same, and it consists of a novel method of forming a plate to properly retain a suction disk in cup-shape.

It further consists of improved means for molding such plate.

It further consists of other novel features of construction, all as will be hereinafter fully set forth. l

The annexed drawings and the following description set forth in detail, one mechanical form embodying the invention and one way of carrying out the method, which, however, may be varied within the scope. of the claims.

In said annexed drawings-Figure 1 represents a section of the plaster-cast or impression taken of the mouth. Fig. 2 represents a section of a mold in which the intaglio matrix is made. Fig. 3 representsa section of a mold having the wax pattern in it and having the relief matrix poured into it. Fig. 4 represents a section of the intaglio matrix with the retainerforming mold in position. Fig. 5 represents a. section of the complete mold with the rubber 1n place. Fig. 6 represents an enlarged detail view of the rubber plate, the retainer-mold and the intaglio matrix. Fig 7 represents a plan View of the retainer-mold. Fig. 8 represents a plan view of said mold with the central covering-disk removed. Fig. 9 represents a plan view of said mold with said covering-disk removed and the retainershell in position. Fig. 10 represents a plan view of the reverse side of the retainermold. Fig. 11 represents a plan view of the opened retainer-mold. Fig. l2 represents a perspective view of the central coveringdisk. Fig. 13 represents a perspective view of the suction-disk. Fig. 14 represents a perspective detail view of the retainer-shell.

Speocaton of Letters Patent.

Application filed February 3, 1912.

Patented Apr. 23, 1912. Serial No. 675,166.

Fig. 15 represents a sectional detail view of as much of a plate as is suiiicient to illustrate the finished article. Fig. 16 represents a similar view illustrating the suction-disk in position.

Similar numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in the gures.

Referring to the drawings, the reference` numeral 1 indicates the plaster-cast or impression taken of the roof of the mouth and of the gums. In carrying out my method, this cast is covered with a coating, 2, of varnish or similar substance to which plaster will not adhere while in liquid form. This cast is now placed into the drag, 3, of an ordinary dentists flask, and an intaglio matrix, 4, is formed by pouring plaster into the cope, 5, of the flask. A retainer-forming mold, 6, is formed by a disk, 7, having a central, circular opening, 8, and a central, circular recess, 9, formed with an annular groove, 10, at the periphery of its bottom. A circular cover, l1, fits into the recess and has an annular flange, 12, which fits into the annular groove.

The mold-disk has equidistant radial slits, two, 13, of which extend from the central opening to the periphery of the recess, and one, 14, extends through the periphery of the disk. This mold-disk is made from tin or similar soft metal, so that it may be opened at the longer slit, 14 and then bent outward at the short slits, as illustrated in Fig. 11. The mold-disk has perforations, 15, through it, near its periphery. The mold-disk has, on the side opposite the one having the recess, a circular boss, 25, surrounding the central opening.

In now carrying further my improved method, I pass a flanged thimble or retainershell, 16, of gold or other non-corroding metal in the retainer-mold, with the neck of the shell extending through the central opening in the mold and the flange resting against the bottom of the recess, which is then covered by the cover. The retainermold is now placed upon the most level portion of the part of the matrix 4, and gently pressed against the same, so as to make the mold adapt itself to the shape of the matrix, whereupon the mold is secured to the matrix by tacks, 17, driven through the perforations in the mold. A wax pattern, 18, of the nished plate is now formed in the matrix, which is thereupon placed in the drag, 19, of a dentists flask, whereupon liquid plaster is poured into the cope of the same, forming a relief matrix, 20. When the plaster is set, the wax is boiled out of the plaster mold, whereupon said mold is packed with rubber, care being taken that the retainershell or thimble be well packed. The plaster-mold is now placed in a vulcanizing oven. When the rubber-plate is vulcanized, t-he intaglio matrix is removed and the cover for the retainer-mold is removed. If upon inspection, it is found that an insufficient quantity of rubber has been packed to completely fill the retainer-shell, rubber is added, until it is full, and the plate is again subjected to vulcanization. If removable Hat retainer-shell is suiiciently filled, the retainer-mold is pried open at the through slit 111 and then bent open at the shorter slits so as to withdraw the mold from under the flange of the retainer-stud, 21, thus formed in the center of a circular depression, 22, formed by the circular boss, 25, upon the retainer-mold, in the circular recess, 23, produced in the roof of the plate 24.

In the finished denture, a disk, 26, of soft rubber, having a central opening, 27, is slipped over the retainerestud and, on account of the depression at the center of the recess in the plate, said disk forms a suction-cup which aids in retaining the finished denture in place, causing the same, on account of the vacuum produced within such suctioncup, to adhere to the roof of the mouth. r1`he rubber disk may be readily replaced, as soon as it loses its resiliency, by merely slipping the worn-out disk ofil from the retaining-stud and replacing another.

I am aware that dentures with studs, principally screwed or riveted into the plate, have been made and used for many years, and I am also aware that dentures have been made with the stud integral with the plate and with certain inclined or sloping surfaces which were intended to give the required cup-shape to the suction disk, and I am also aware that temporary molds have been employed for the purpose of forming such retaining-studs formed from soft met-al which would adapt themselves to the contour of the part of the mouth, but I am not aware of any mold or method, whereby such mold could be spread open to remove the mold from the stud without cutting of the same. Neither am I aware of any mold or method whereby it is possible to add rubber to the stud after vulcanization to correct error in the first packing, nor of any mode or method of making dental plates wherein the suction-disks may be depressed in their centers without the employment of dished or l(therwise oblique or inclined fastening memers.

I am aware of the Patents, No. 801,911, granted October 17th, 1905, "and No. 821,192, granted May 22nd, 1906, the latter of which is for a suction cavity having a bottom ascending angle which I do not employ, while the former relates to a process and a product, which process I do not employ. My present invention is therefore differentiated from said prior art by the employment of the tapering retainer having the tapering flanged shell thereon, and to none of the devices of the prior art do I herein make my claim.

Other modes of applying the principle of my invention may be employed for the mode herein explained. Changes may therefore be made in the method and the device for performing the same without departing from the essential steps and mechanisms set forth in the following claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

l. The method of making dental plates adapted to support yielding suction-disks, which consists in inclosing a non-corrosible flanged retainer-shell in a sectional mold, securing such sectional mold to the intaglio matrix of a dental mold, packing said matrix and the shell with rubber, and vulcanizing the rubber.

2. The method of making dental plates adapted to support yielding` suction-disks, which consists in inclosing a non-corrosible flanged retainer-shell in a sectional mold, securing such sectional mold to the intaglio matrix of a dental mold, packing rubber into said matrix and shell, vulcanizing said rubber, and splitting the sectional mold to remove it from beneath the flange of the retainer-shell.

3. In a dental mold for forming plates adapted to support yielding 'suctiondisks, a circular mold-disk having a central opening and formed with a central, circular recess in one face, and a circular cover fitting into said recess to be flush with the face of said `mold-disk.

Ll. In a dental mold for forming plates adapted to support yielding suction-disks, a circular mold-disk formed with a central opening and with a circular recess in lone face having an annular groove at the periphery of its bottom, and a circular cover fitting into said recess to be flush with the face of said mold-disk and having an annular peripheral flange engaging the annular groove.

5. In a dental mold for forming plates "adapted to support yielding suction-disks,

a circular mold-disk formed with a central opening and a circular boss upon one face and a circular recess in its other face having an annular groove in its loot-tom, and a oireular cover adapted to ft Within said recess and formed With a peripheral flange engaging the groove.

6. In a dental mold for forming plates adapted to support yielding suction-disks, a circular mold-disk of soft metal and formed With a central opening and With a circular recess and having radial slits 10 said recess.

HENRY J. SMITH. Witnesses:

C. D. MCVAY, M. E. BYRNE.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents eachy by addressing the Commissioner oi' Patents, Washington, D. C. 

